I've only been shooting a few years now, and I've got a problem I should probably know the answer to already.

I recently bought a Savage model 12 F/TR. I mounted a Bushnell Elite 4200 Scope on it (8-32 x 42), but when it came time to sight it in (at roughly 100 yards) I had to max out my drop adjustment just to get my crosshairs pointing where the bullets are going. This is using Federal match grade ammo.

I've also used this scope on a few other rifles and I haven't had this problem.

I don't know what would cause this, I'm sure it's obvious but I figured I'd ask the people who'd know.

The front base isn't level with the rear base. The easiest fix is to use the Burris Signature rings with an offset insert kit. The offset kit will allow you to align the scope with the bore so you can center the reticle.

If you got two separate scope bases that don't have matching height, that could cause the symptom, but you would have the scope unevenly in the rings which can ring the scope tube. Burris Zee rings would prevent that damage, but won't correct the adjustment range.

But it seems to me more likely you have inadvertently purchased long range scope bases. These are available with a built-in elevation addition because you can't normally adjust a scope high enough to get on paper at 1000 yards without them. Conversely, of course, once you have them, you have to adjust the scope down a lot to be on paper at short range. You can buy those bases well beyond the range of adjustment in a scope, and that would explain your symptom. Check a catalog of scope bases for the rifle and purchase a standard set.

But it seems to me more likely you have inadvertently purchased long range scope bases. These are available with a built-in elevation addition because you can't normally adjust a scope high enough to get on paper at 1000 yards without them. Conversely, of course, once you have them, you have to adjust the scope down a lot to be on paper at short range. You can buy those bases well beyond the range of adjustment in a scope, and that would explain your symptom. Check a catalog of scope bases for the rifle and purchase a standard set.

I've also removed the bases and confirmed they are the same thickness. I still haven't found any glaring mistakes in the way my gun is put together.

Currently I'm using the Burris bases and Leupold QRW rings. All are made to fit and everything seems to go together okay.

I know that I could just shim the rear base and have everything work out, I'm just worried about that causing more problems down the road. I know that the Burris rings would do the job of the shim, so maybe I'll just have to go with those, even though my Leupolds cost 60 or so bucks.

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Yep sounds like you've got 20 or 30 MOA bases... Get rid of the 2 piece and go to a 1 piece base.

Does anyone know of a reliable one piece base made for Savage rifles? I know sharpshootersupply sells some for about 60 bucks, are these any good?

You can spend $60 on a one piece base and still have the same problem. You'll either need to shim one side of the base so it is level with the other, or use the Signature rings with the offset inserts.

There are a lot of receivers and bases that aren't in alignment, but just not as much as yours. There are +/- tolerances in the receiver and in the bases, and sometimes you get a smaller base on the smaller side of the receiver. It happens often enough that companies make shims and Burris makes the Signature rings.

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